DAKAR, SENEGAL — On Monday, 60 supporters of the Biafra separatist movement were imprisoned by court order in the southeastern Nigerian state of Abia. The order is part of a growing government crackdown against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group calling for southeastern Nigeria to break away and form an independent country. In recent weeks, protests by IPOB activists have become increasingly tense. A rally in Abia earlier this month left a police officer dead and a police station nearly burned down. The now jailed sixty people who took part in that rally were charged with conspiracy, terrorism, attempted murder, and membership in an unlawful society. The governors of five southeastern states recently met and banned all IPOB activities, while the government has declared IPOB a terrorist organization, citing alleged offenses that included the formation of a Biafra secret service and using weapons against Nigerian security forces.

KAMPALA, UGANDA — A fight broke out in Uganda’s parliament Tuesday amid efforts to introduce legislation that could extend the president’s decades-long hold on power. After opposition lawmakers accused a colleague on the government side of carrying a gun, a brawl broke out in which lawmakers pushed and punched each other. A motion is to be introduced Tuesday to remove a constitutional provision that prevents anyone over the age of 75 from running for president. The move is seen as an effort by President Yoweri Museveni, who at 73 is ineligible to run for re-election in 2021, to extend his rule. The bill has raised tensions in this East African country that has never seen a peaceful change of power since independence from Britain in 1962. Museveni has held power since 1986. Powered by <a href="http://www.wpematico.

FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA — Joe Walsh is known for his guitar skills as a member of The James Gang and later as a member of the rock super group, The Eagles. He has received multiple Grammy awards, was inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, and was a Kennedy Center Honoree. But not many people know Walsh is also the son of a flight instructor who was killed while on active duty in Japan in 1949. The 69-year-old guitarist told VOA that because of his own history, he wanted to help the families of veterans, especially those coming home from Afghanistan. “We’re at war, Walsh said. “This is an ongoing war with no end in sight. And there are more and more troops coming home. And the transition back to civilian life is almost too big of a mountain to climb. And I just decided that I can do something about it to help,” he added.

MONTREAL — Uber said Tuesday it will cease operations in Quebec next month if the province doesn’t rescind new rules it introduced last week. Quebec Uber boss Jean-Nicolas Guillemette said it will stop operating on October 14 if the government doesn’t back down. Transport Minister Laurent Lessard said Friday the province would allow Uber to continue to operate provided Uber drivers are required to undergo the same number of training hours as traditional taxi drivers, which is 35 hours, instead of the 20 hours required previously. Guillemette said the province didn’t consult with the company before introducing the new rules. He said that makes it impossible for the service to continue in Quebec. He said there are no training requirements in any other Canadian city and called it a “deal breaker.

A cross-straits music festival on the campus of Taiwan’s most prestigious university has sparked fears that the influence of the Chinese Communist Party, which claims sovereignty over the democratic island but which has never ruled it, may be on the rise. The “Sing! China: Shanghai-Taipei Music Festival” was halted by authorities at National Taiwan University after mass protests by students on Sunday prompted scuffles between pro-independence and pro-Beijing groups. Three students were injured by a member of the pro-Beijing Patriot Association wielding a stick, and police said they had taken in a 61-year-old man surnamed Hu for questioning. Protesters accused China’s Communist Party of using the concert, which had been jointly planned by Taiwan’s cultural affairs department and the mainland Chinese TV show Sing! China, as part of its United Front propaganda strategy used by Beijing to advance its interests overseas.

China’s internet censors appeared on Tuesday to have blocked or disrupted the main functions of the WhatsApp social media app, amid a nationwide clampdown on social media in the run-up to a five-yearly congress of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook and offers end-to-end encryption, isn’t as popular as its homegrown counterpart WeChat among China’s more than 730 million internet users, but has been more resistant to government censorship until now. Technology news site TechCrunch said it has received reports that while many users lost access beginning Sunday night, some in mainland China can still send and receive WhatsApp messages, adding that WhatsApp declined to comment on the blockage. WhatsApp’s ability to send videos, photos, and files was blocked in China in July following the death in police custody of jailed Nobel peace laureate and prisoner of conscience Liu Xiaobo. However, the blocks were lifted a few weeks later.

Hungary has pledged to block Ukraine’s further integration with Europe after Kyiv enacted a controversial education law that critics say will restrict the study of minority languages in schools. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on September 26 that the consequences for Kyiv would be “painful” after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed the measure making Ukrainian the required language of study in state schools from the fifth grade on. “Hungary will block all steps within the European Union that would represent a step forward in Ukraine’s European integration process,” Szijjarto said in comments to the Hungarian news agency MTI that were also posted on the Hungarian government’s website. http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade/news/this-will-be-painful-for-ukraine “We can guarantee that all this will be painful for Ukraine in future,” Szijjarto added.

The activist group Human Rights Watch on Tuesday accused the Myanmar military of committing “crimes against humanity” as hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims flee violence in Rakhine State. “The Burmese military is brutally expelling the Rohingya from northern Rakhine State,” said James Ross, legal and policy director at Human Rights Watch. “The massacres of villagers and mass arson driving people from their homes are all crimes against humanity.” The United Nations says more than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh to escape persecution by the Myanmar government. According to the agency, 45,000 people have fled to Bangladesh in just the past two days. The latest round of violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state erupted August 25 when a Rohingya insurgent group launched deadly attacks on security posts. Myanmar responded with military “clearance operations” to root out the rebels.

NEW YORK — Puerto Rican rapper Residente’s first solo album post-Calle 13 has received a leading nine nominations for this year’s Latin Grammys, including for record, song and album of the year. Colombian sensation Maluma follows him with seven, Shakira’s comeback gathered six, and Juanes, Mon Laferte and producer Kevin Jimenez ADG received five nominations each, the Latin Recording Academy announced Tuesday. The announcement was delayed by nearly a week after last year’s devastating earthquake in Mexico and hurricanes Irma and Maria, which have devastated the Caribbean. This year’s ceremony could provide Juanes with the opportunity to break his record tie with Calle 13: Both acts have won 21 awards each. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s megahit “Despacito” got four nominations: record and song of the year, as well as best urban fusion/performance for its remix with Justin Bieber and best short form music video for its clip.

LOS ANGELES — “Frozen” star Idina Menzel has married actor Aaron Lohr. Menzel posted wedding pictures to her Facebook page on Monday, writing: “Wanted to let you know… married the love of my life Aaron Lohr this weekend at our home. Dad & son walked me down the aisle. It was magical.” The 46-year-old Menzel and Lohr, who’s 41, appeared in the 2005 film adaptation of the musical “Rent.” They also share a Disney background. Menzel provides the voice for Queen Elsa and her “Let It Go” anthem in “Frozen.” Lohr appeared in Disney’s Mighty Ducks movies and the company’s 1992 adaptation of Broadway’s “Newsies.” This is the second marriage for Menzel, who shares a son with ex-husband Taye Diggs. Powered by <a href="http://www.wpematico.

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NEW YORK — Puerto Rican rapper Residente’s first solo album post-Calle 13 has received a leading nine nominations for this year’s Latin Grammys, including for record, song and album of the year. Colombian sensation Maluma follows him with seven, Shakira’s comeback gathered six, and Juanes, Mon Laferte and producer Kevin Jimenez ADG received five nominations each, the Latin Recording Academy announced Tuesday. The announcement was delayed by nearly a week after last year’s devastating earthquake in Mexico and hurricanes Irma and Maria, which have devastated the Caribbean. This year’s ceremony could provide Juanes with the opportunity to break his record tie with Calle 13: Both acts have won 21 awards each. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s megahit “Despacito” got four nominations: record and song of the year, as well as best urban fusion/performance for its remix with Justin Bieber and best short form music video for its clip.

FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA — Joe Walsh is known for his guitar skills as a member of The James Gang and later as a member of the rock super group, The Eagles. He has received multiple Grammy awards, was inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, and was a Kennedy Center Honoree. But not many people know Walsh is also the son of a flight instructor who was killed while on active duty in Japan in 1949. The 69-year-old guitarist told VOA that because of his own history, he wanted to help the families of veterans, especially those coming home from Afghanistan. “We’re at war, Walsh said. “This is an ongoing war with no end in sight. And there are more and more troops coming home. And the transition back to civilian life is almost too big of a mountain to climb. And I just decided that I can do something about it to help,” he added.

A cross-straits music festival on the campus of Taiwan’s most prestigious university has sparked fears that the influence of the Chinese Communist Party, which claims sovereignty over the democratic island but which has never ruled it, may be on the rise. The “Sing! China: Shanghai-Taipei Music Festival” was halted by authorities at National Taiwan University after mass protests by students on Sunday prompted scuffles between pro-independence and pro-Beijing groups. Three students were injured by a member of the pro-Beijing Patriot Association wielding a stick, and police said they had taken in a 61-year-old man surnamed Hu for questioning. Protesters accused China’s Communist Party of using the concert, which had been jointly planned by Taiwan’s cultural affairs department and the mainland Chinese TV show Sing! China, as part of its United Front propaganda strategy used by Beijing to advance its interests overseas.

MONTREAL — Uber said Tuesday it will cease operations in Quebec next month if the province doesn’t rescind new rules it introduced last week. Quebec Uber boss Jean-Nicolas Guillemette said it will stop operating on October 14 if the government doesn’t back down. Transport Minister Laurent Lessard said Friday the province would allow Uber to continue to operate provided Uber drivers are required to undergo the same number of training hours as traditional taxi drivers, which is 35 hours, instead of the 20 hours required previously. Guillemette said the province didn’t consult with the company before introducing the new rules. He said that makes it impossible for the service to continue in Quebec. He said there are no training requirements in any other Canadian city and called it a “deal breaker.

The top U.S. military commander has warned against pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, saying doing so would complicate U.S. efforts to reach agreements with other nations. General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the comments September 26 in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. His remarks come as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to criticize Tehran, and the landmark 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor, Barack Obama in conjunction with other world powers. The agreement curtailed Tehran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for lifting punishing Western sanctions. Trump has called the deal “an embarrassment.” Dunford told senators that Iran was complying with the deal.

Hungary has pledged to block Ukraine’s further integration with Europe after Kyiv enacted a controversial education law that critics say will restrict the study of minority languages in schools. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on September 26 that the consequences for Kyiv would be “painful” after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed the measure making Ukrainian the required language of study in state schools from the fifth grade on. “Hungary will block all steps within the European Union that would represent a step forward in Ukraine’s European integration process,” Szijjarto said in comments to the Hungarian news agency MTI that were also posted on the Hungarian government’s website. http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade/news/this-will-be-painful-for-ukraine “We can guarantee that all this will be painful for Ukraine in future,” Szijjarto added.